The COO Solution Podcast

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson tackles a challenge nearly every founder faces at some point: running a business in constant crisis mode. If your days are filled with urgent decisions, constant interruptions, and putting out fires instead of leading strategically, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. Derek breaks down why reactive le...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, Derek sits down with Andrea de la Cerda, CEO of Clover Agency and founder of Candula, for a powerful conversation on leadership, trust, and what it truly means to step into the visionary role. Andrea shares her honest journey of hitting the “I can’t do this alone anymore” moment, why she chose Fractional COO support, and how learning to l...

The 3 Systems Every CEO Needs to Break the Bottleneck and Scale Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, Derek Fredrickson breaks down the root reason most founders stay overloaded, overwhelmed, and stuck in the weeds: you can’t delegate chaos. If your team depends on you for answers… If projects stall unless you step in… If your business grows but you get busier instead of...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, Derek sits down with AI strategist and educator Marnie Wills for a practical and eye-opening conversation about how founders can utilize AI not just for content or marketing, but as an operational partner that functions like a second brain or a “silent COO.” Marnie explains how AI can support decision-making, streamline communication, acc...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson breaks down one of the most common turning points for growing business owners — recognizing when your company has outgrown you as its operator. Suppose you’ve been feeling stuck, overextended, or like your business only moves when you’re involved. In that case, this episode will help you identify the five clear...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson interviews Lucy Rayden, founder of InTech Search, a global recruitment firm specializing in deep tech industries like semiconductors, photonics, and electronics. Lucy opens up about her journey from burnout to breakthrough and how bringing in a fractional COO helped her regain balance, reclaim her time, and transform...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson unpacks one of the biggest breakthroughs every business owner needs to experience: how to build a self-managing team that runs (and thrives) without you. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you stepped away from your business for a week or two and feared it would all fall apart, this episode will shift...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Kristie Clayton , founder of Herverse and a seasoned second-in-command leader turned visionary, to explore what it really means to thrive in leadership. Kristie shares her journey from COO to CEO, the power of Integrator–Visionary partnerships, and why embracing “whole human leadership” transforms not...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson unpacks one of the most overlooked yet critical elements of scaling a business: team alignment. If your team is working hard but progress still feels off or if you’re frustrated that projects move forward but don’t quite match your bigger vision, this episode is for you. Derek reveals why alignment isn’t just a...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this special episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Amy Anderson, CEO of ACG Practice Partners and a current client of The COO Solution. Amy is an expert in the aesthetics industry who has helped hundreds of surgeons and practice leaders launch and scale successful, high-performing practices. In this candid conversation, Amy shares what it was...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson dives deep into one of the most common challenges business owners face: micromanagement. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin, chances are you’re still holding on to too much, and it’s keeping your business stuck. Derek shares how learning the art of effective delegation unlocks freedom, builds trus...

In this episode of The COO Solution Podcast, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Melissa Ortiz, founder of Activate Human Capital Group, to explore the often-overlooked root cause of team frustration, burnout, and misalignment: unclear roles. If your team is working hard but not necessarily on the right things, this episode is for you. Melissa breaks down what role clarity really means—and why i...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson tackles one of the biggest (and often most ignored) reasons businesses plateau: team misalignment. Whether you’re leading a small but mighty team or managing a fast-growing company, your next level of growth depends on more than just sales and systems—it hinges on your people. In this episode, Derek shares how t...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson is joined by serial entrepreneur and Cashflowy AI founder, Heidi DeCoux, for a refreshingly honest conversation about the financial mistakes that hold entrepreneurs back—and how to finally fix them. If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or simply out of touch with your numbers, this episode is for you. Heidi sha...

Welcome to another episode of The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson dives into the four critical areas that separate stagnant businesses from scalable ones. If you’re a founder or CEO feeling stuck at the seven-figure mark—or you’re simply exhausted by the day-to-day—this is the clarity you’ve been waiting for. Derek breaks down the leadership mindset, systems str...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, Derek Fredrickson sits down with Rocky Anderson, Founder of ADC Water, to share a candid behind-the-scenes look at how bringing on a fractional COO from The COO Solution transformed his engineering firm from a cash-burning, chaotic operation into a scalable, purpose-driven business. Rocky opens up about the emotional toll of trying to scal...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast , the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and today’s episode addresses one of the most critical mindset and strategy shifts in entrepreneurship—how to stop being the bottleneck and start building a self-ma...

Welcome to another episode of The COO Solution Podcast ! This week, Derek Fredrickson is joined by marketing strategist and CEO of Duct Tape Marketing , Sara Nay . With over 15 years of experience helping small businesses simplify and succeed with smarter marketing strategies, Sara offers a candid look at how business owners can navigate today’s noisy marketing world with clarity, purpose, and eff...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast, the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and today’s episode addresses one of the most critical mindset and strategy shifts in entrepreneurship—how to stop being the bottleneck and start building a self-man...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast , the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and today’s episode tackles one of the biggest game-changers in business leadership: knowing the difference between the visionary and the operator —and owning your...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast, the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. Today’s guest is Nicole Gallicchio-Elz, fractional COO and the Chief Operating Officer of The COO Solution. With over 15 years of experience building high-performing, process-driven organizations, Ni...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast, the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and today, we’re tackling one of the hardest but most crucial leadership shifts: learning to trust your team and let go of control so your business can grow beyond y...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast, the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and today, we’re diving into one of the most crucial mindset shifts for entrepreneurs: realizing that what got you to this point won’t take you to the next level. If...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast , the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and I’m here to bring you real strategies, real tactics, and actionable insights to help you streamline your operations and drive sustainable growth. Today, I’m joi...

Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast, the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and I’m here to bring you real strategies, real tactics, and actionable insights to help you streamline your operations and drive sustainable growth. In This Episode...